Every Monday, we spotlight the town government meetings, and cultural, recreational, and athletics events that caught our eye. Read on and mark your calendars!

New! Community Calendars

Our Week Ahead is a curated selection presenting a small slice of all that’s happening in Amherst. Want a more comprehensive view? We’ve gathered the event and program calendars from the many organizations and committees in Amherst onto a new page – Community Calendars. Check it out!

Design Review Board – Monday

Join Monday’s meeting of the Design Review Board to learn about plans for several new businesses in downtown Amherst as well as the North Common project. 5:00-7:00 pm on Zoom. MORE

ARHS Varsity Athletics at Home – Monday

Catch Amherst Hurricanes varsity postseason action at home this week! Boys Basketball (#30) tips off at home vs. Plymouth South (#35). The winner advances to the Round of 32 in the State Division 2 Championship. 6:00 pm at ARHS. $ MORE

Regional Schools Budget Hearing – Tuesday

The Regional (secondary) schools are facing more than $1.6 million in cuts to current programs and services next year. Attend this meeting to learn what cuts are being proposed and to provide your comments during the hearing. 6:30 pm in the Library at ARHS. MORE

Author Talk: The Economic Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine – Wednesday

Author and professor Christine Abely will discuss her new book, The Russia Sanctions: The Economic Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, during this online talk presented through the Jones Library and sponsored by the Tewksbury Public Library. Learn about the international trade measures and sanctions deployed against Russia in response to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 7:00-8:00 pm on Zoom.  MORE

Palestine/Israel Talk Series – Wednesday

Also on Wednesday, the second in a series of talks on Palestine/Israel – Historical resonances, domestic fractures, global consequences – is hosted at Amherst College and open to the public. Presented by Dr. Ahmad Samih Khalidi of the Center for Security Policy in Geneva, this talk will examine the global salience of the Palestine/Israel conflict and why it appears to occupy a unique position in the domestic and foreign policies of the West in general and the US in particular, as well as much of the rest of the world. 5:30-7:00 pm at Aliki Perrotti & Seth Frank Lyceum at Amherst College. Free. MORE

National Day of Racial Healing Event – Thursday

On Thursday evening, Amherst will host a series of ‘sharing circles’ at its event at Crocker Farm Elementary School. The event, rescheduled from January, creates an opportunity for open communication between community members. Each sharing circle is guided by a community member who has been carefully trained to help the group build empathy and focus on listening with a goal of better understanding the uniqueness of our community. People of all ages and all walks of life are invited. 6:30-8:30 pm at Crocker Farm Elementary School. Free. MORE

The Evergreens Reopening – Friday

Closed since 2019, the Evergreens at The Emily Dickinson Museum is reopening on Friday! The Museum recently completed a multi-year preservation effort at The Evergreens, aimed at improving environmental conditions for objects in its recently documented collection, and reducing energy consumption. Beginning March 1, the Emily Dickinson Museum will be open from Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Admission tickets provide access to both the Homestead and The Evergreens. Visitors are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. Friday through Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. $ MORE

Point/Counterpoint Series with John McWhorter – Friday

Amherst College opens this year’s Point/CounterPoint series: The People’s Tongue on Friday with a conversation with John McWhorter, professor and linguist. This series of public conversations with essayist, translator, publisher, and philologist, Ilan Stavans, prominent figures from opposing ideological persuasions—politicians, newspaper columnists, novelists, poets, and others—reflect on the changing nature of our language. Free and open to the public. Stirn Auditorium in the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, 4:00 pm. MORE

Fireside Chat and Stargazing – Friday

Who doesn’t love a crisp winter night of stargazing? Pair it with a campfire and warm drinks to make it a night! Join the Hitchcock Center for the Environment for warm drinks and snacks around the campfire along with stargazing. 6:30-7:30 pm at the Hitchcock Center. $ MORE

Get Involved

You don’t have to run for an elected office to contribute to the future of our community and government. There are multiple Town boards and committees looking for new members, including the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Jones Library Building Committee, and the new 2024 Charter Review Committee. See the complete list of committee vacancies and apply, HERE.

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Have an event you’d like us to spotlight? Email us TheAmherstCurrent@gmail.com.